BLOG #3

This semester we are still continuing our research project with Cryptosporidium parvum (C.parvum) and we are collaborating our research study with the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA). Recently, USDA found out that Cryptosporidium parvum have a virus and they called it Cryptosporidium parvum virus. This virus lives inside the parasite and the way they work is similar with HIV, which they can divide together with the parasite. From this information, we are trying to find out the relation between Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium parvum virus. There are two main focus of this research. The first one, does the Cryptosporidium parvum virus harms the host cell and the second the second one, does the Cryptosporidium parvum virus provides the necessary interaction with the Cryptosporidium parvum. To approach these questions, we are working on treating the Cryptosporidium parvum- Cryptosporidium parvum virus (C.parvum-Cpvirus) with antivirals drugs, which is gliotoxin and phosponoacetic acid. The drugs were added in three different media. It was in extra capillaries space media, growth media, and cell media. All of the media were treated with the drugs for four days and the treatment stops. The samples of the media were collected rapidly; it starts from collecting the sample before we are starting the treatment, day 1 – day 4 of treatment, and day 9 after the treatment stop. These samples then were tested in three separate methods. The first method is using high quality liquid chromatography (HPLC), the purpose of this method is to see the concentration of the drugs in the media. The second one is the Lowry protein assay in order to know the concentration of the C.parvum. The third method is tested in USDA laboratory; this method is used to know the concentration of the Cryptosporidium parvum virus before, after and during the treatment. The result of this study is still in process. For future study, when we are able to produce C.parvum with the viral free, we will test it in the animals and see if the C.parvum still be able to infect the animal or not.

I really learn a lot from this research project. I learn how different type of method can be used to produce results and how several drugs are tested before it goes to the market and people can use it to treat some disease.